Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Q: Will certification get me a job? What can I earn?
A: Certification is obviously only one element (albeit a very important one) of getting into an IT career. You still have to pass a commercial interview and therefore communication and people skills come into play as well as experience in other related areas of business, as with any job you apply for. Your certification proves that you have the technical competence to perform the required job, but you still need to impress an employer with your other skills.
Many students coming to the market do not consider their current skill-set when looking for their first IT job. This is essential to maximise your earning potential. If you have experience in a certain area or market, then that could bolster your starting salary if you move into a new IT position in that sector. Obviously, companies will value a new IT employee with commercial skills in their market higher than someone with just the IT skills.
Typical earnings in the various IT fields can be discussed with a careers advisor as it's important that you don't have unrealistic expectations either way. Most of our students are more than happy with the level of starting salaries and expected growth in IT, but there will always be someone who expects to make 40k+ in their first job!
There are many jobs available in the IT industry; as of January 2010 there is a huge shortage at both ends of the scale - both junior support people and experienced IT management. (Read E-Skills 2010 Insights Overview). But we all have to start somewhere - you can't start with a 50k IT management position if you have no experience!
As with any professional career path, you can expect your salary to rise over time, with experience and training. The average salary in IT across the UK is considerably higher than the national average salary of all workers, so in general you'll probably earn significantly more over time as a trained IT professional than you would in most typical jobs.
| FAQs Index |